Linda and I Have Adventures in Florida

My friend, Linda, has come down to Florida to be with me. Yesterday we interrupted our heavy schedule of reading and relaxing to go into Sebastian and see Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum. The Museum tells all about the Fisher family's salvaging operation and how they've found priceless treasures from ancient shipwrecks -- in particular the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet that was wrecked in a hurricane just off the coast of Florida.

A lot of the items found were religious, like this rosary and cross. And some were more "practical" like this "poison cup" which has a framework in the bottom to hold a beazoar -- a stone that was said to absorb poison so that even if your drink was poisoned you would be protected. Of course, there were also gold and silver coins and huge bars of gold and silver too. There were chains and rings and lockets and candlesticks and lots of other assorted things. One interesting thing was that the gold that was made into necklaces wasn't taxed, so naturally people travelled with huge long necklaces of gold so they could transport the gold without paying a tax on it. Some of the gold necklaces were 6 or 8 feet long and made out of large chunky loops.

Some of the treasures that were salvaged are displayed in the museum and some are actually for sale in the gift shop. Linda bought a pendant that was made from a 1715 silver coin. It's oddly shaped because coins in those days weren't necessarily round. Once they were made by hand they were weighed and if they were a little heavy some of the coin was cut away. Similarly, if you needed to make payment and it cost less than a full coin, you'd just cut away the portion you needed to pay. So Linda's odd-shaped coin is really full of history.

I bought a book on the 1715 fleet and a faux silver coin -- but I already have a silver coin pendant at home that Jeff gave me and two pair of earrings all from salvaged treasure. So, I felt justified in egging Linda on to make her purchase without getting any myself!

After the museum we headed to the Vero Beach Factory Outlet to shop a little. Linda needed a new suitcase, since hers has lost a wheel and we looked around a little at the shops. We found a great suitcase for her at the Samsonite store -- it's bright red and has a shiny hard shell and wonderful wheels.

Today, we're back to relaxing by the pool. I bought "The Lovely Bones" to read and Linda's reading the "Twilight" series. Only one more day until it's time to head for home and Jeff's surgery.